Temporary protective junction box cover

ABSTRACT

A temporary protective cover for junction boxes with or without installed switches and/or outlets and for conduit bodies, empty or containing wires or cables of various sizes and uses. The protective cover having a front and rear surface; having a trapezoidal cavity sized to receive installed switches and/or outlets in junction box; the protective cover having two elongated tabs that extend on either side of installed switch or plug inside junction box, for securing the protective cover to junction boxes and conduit bodies; having rectangular or circular cavity opening that is sized to fit openings of junction boxes or conduit bodies, in such a manner that the cover remains fixed relative to the junction box or conduit body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of, under 35 U.S.C. § 121, and claims priority to, under 35 U.S.C. § 121, U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/217,198, entitled TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE JUNCTION BOX COVER, by McArvie Crawford Jr., filed on Jul. 1, 2008. This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/958,276 to McArvie Crawford Jr. filed on Jul. 2, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

A temporary protective cover made of flexible, durable, reusable, and solvent resistant plastic for an electrical junction box that can be used during interior and exterior construction of a building. The cover is trapezoidal(pyramid) shaped, has a flat top, and four sides, forming a rectangular opening. The right and left sides of cover are longer, and when squeezed simultaneously the cover will slide into the opening of a junction box. The top and bottom edge of cover will rest flush atop the rim of junction box in order to cover the opening of the box completely. The cover's cavity has a flat top, large enough to receive a protruding light switch. The right and left side tabs extend below rim of junction box. The extended side tabs are long enough to slide into the opening of the junction box so cover will rest flush on the rim of the box, and the tabs will frictionally engage the interior walls of the junction box.

Description of the Related Art

The present invention relates to temporary protective junction box covers for streamlining the process of covering and protecting different types of junction boxes and their contents from construction materials being applied to the wall or ceiling surface and/or debris. This cover can create further reductions in the time required to cover an uncover junction boxes during the interior and exterior construction process, and help eliminate time spent cleaning or replacing switches, outlets and/or the junction box. These patents are incorporated by reference herein as background information illustrating temporary protective junction box covers. Erdfarb U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,974; Compagone, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 6,686,540; Green U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,952; disclose various types of temporary protective covers and are also incorporated by reference herein as background information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When applying a finish to an interior wall or exterior wall surface, the electrical junction boxes and their contents must be protected from the material being used. If the opening of the junction box and it's contents are exposed, the contents of the box will be prone to damage from excessive paint, joint compound and/or cement stucco. The conventional solution is to use masking tape to cover the opening, the switch or outlet in the box. Masking tape is difficult to apply over protruding light switches. The method of using masking tape has drawbacks in that if not applied properly it may not protect the switch or outlet itself, or the incoming computer or electrical wires, of from the materials being applied. Some other drawbacks of using masking tape are, that the tape will leave jagged edges when tape is removed from wall and if an excessive amount of material is applied, the tape's glue may become weak and loose it's adhesion to the switch or outlet, thus allowing the applied materials to attach to and/or damaged either the switch, outlet or cover the electrical wires within the box.

When installing conduit there is a need to access and protect the contents of the F.S. Boxes, conduit bodies, and conduit junction boxes. The conventional method is to attach and remove the permanent covers by screws. This temporary cover allows the worker to access the contents inside conduit junction boxes quickly and continues to protect conduit junction boxes while they are being connected to new or existing conduit and/or while surrounding areas are under construction.

There is a need for a simple way to protect switches, outlets, and electrical wires within the junction box during the application of the aforementioned materials and their application processes, that can be attached and removed easily. When it is removed it will leave clean edge between the wall and the interior of the junction box and its contents will be free of physical damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This idea solves the problem of protecting junction boxes on walls under construction, by simply applying pressure simultaneously to the right and left extending side tabs of the cover, while sliding the cover into the junctions box and releasing the pressure on the tabs. The extending side tabs fit snugly against the interior sidewalls of the junction box. The trapezoidal shaped rectangular cover is sized to have a cavity large enough to receive an installed light switch or outlet. The top and bottom edges of the cover rest on the exposed rim of the junction box, allowing the cover to protect the box and it's contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a wall, junction box, light switch and protective cover.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wall, junction box, light switch, and the protective cover inserted into junction box.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of protective cover inserted into junction box.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of wall, junction box, light switch and protective cover. It shows protective cover inserted into junction box, in direction indicated by arrows. It also shows that the extended side tabs will flex, when pressure is applied to extended side tabs simultaneously so protective cover can be inserted into junction box.

FIG. 5 shows additional embodiments of this invention from the top, front and side cross-sectional views. Embodiments are sized to fit double, triple and quadruple junction boxes.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment and how it's applied to the junction box.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention that is for a ceiling box or an circular junction box in top, side view and a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 8 shows how embodiment fits into round junction box.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of this invention for a conduit body, in a top, side and cross-sectional view.

FIG. 10 shows how embodiment fits into conduit body and a cross-sectional of how it fits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the protective cover 20, top and bottom edges 21 and 22, extended side tabs 23 and 24. The embodiment shown is for use with a standard single switch or outlet electrical junction box. Additional sizes can be used to cover double, triple, and quadruple switch and outlet boxes. The trapezoidal portion of 20 forms a cavity deep enough as to allow for the protrusion of a light switch while still having extended side tabs 23 and 24 frictionally contact the interior wall of the electrical junction box. A wall 12, light switch 11, and a junction box 10 are shown. Arrows 25 show how protective cover is inserted into the junction box.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover 20 inserted into junction box 10. The extended tabs 23 and 24 fit snugly against interior side walls of junction box 10 without interfering with light switch 11. The trapezoidal portion of 20 has cavity sized to receive the protruding light switch 11, when extended tabs 23 and 24 contact interior walls of 10.

FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of wall 12 and protective cover 20 inserted into electrical junction box 10(not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of protective cover 20 when the extended side tabs 23 and 24 have pressure applied simultaneously by squeezing the rounded grip ridges 26 and 27, so that protective cover 20 can be inserted(arrows 25) into junction box 10.

FIG. 5 shows a top view, frontal and side cross-sectional views of covers 30, 36 and 42 as embodiments for double, triple, and quadruple protective covers for junction boxes with switches and/or outlets installed inside. Cover 30 is sized to fit a quadruple junction box, cover 36 is sized to fit a triple junction box and cover 42 is sized to fit a double box without detracting from the application of this invention. Top and bottom edges 35, 36, 40, 41, 47 and 48 allow to rest flush on the rim of the junction box. Rounded grip ridges 45, 46, 38, 39, 33, 34 and extended side tabs 31, 32, 37, 38, 43 and 44 allow for covers 30, 36 and 46 to be inserted by the same installation and removal processes as cover 20.

FIG. 6 shows how cover 42 engages the junction box 49 similar to how cover 20 is engaging junction box 10. Covers 36 and 30 engage their respective size junction boxes in the same fashion. Rounded grip edges 45, 46, are located on the same surface as top and bottom edges 47 and 48. The location position of the rounded grip edges on covers 30, 36 and 42 allows these embodiments of cover 20 to be held securely during installation and removal process.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of cover 20 for standard and custom, round or octagon shaped ceiling boxes without detracting from the application of this invention. Protective cover 50 is shown in a top, side and a cross-sectional view. Similar to cover 20, cover 50 has extended side tabs 51, 52, top and bottom edges 55, 56 and rounded grip edges 53, and 54, which allow cover 50 installed and remove in the same methods as cover 20, 53 and 54 are located on the same surface as 51 and 52 similar to cover 20. Cover 50 also has a trapezoidal shaped cavity sized to receive a protruding light switch. The bottom of the extended side tabs 51 and 52 are curved shaped and sized to slide into ceiling boxes when pressure is applied to 51 and 52, similar to 20. The round bottom edges of 51 and 52 allow 50 to fit snug into the junction box when pressure is released.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of how cover 50 would be inserted (arrows 58) into round junction box 57, which is similar to installation cover 20.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of this invention for metallic or non-metallie conduit bodies without detracting from the application of this invention. Cover is designed similar to cover 20, having top and bottom edges 65,66, rounded grip edges 63, 64, extended side tabs 61, 62, and having a trapezoidal cavity. Cover 60 is installed and removed by using same procedure for cover 20. Cover 60 is a temporary cover for protecting cables and electrical wires when permanent cover is removed for construction purposes from conduit bodies. Cover 60 is shown in a top, side and cross-sectional view.

FIG. 10 shows how cover 60 would be inserted(arrows 68) into a standard size conduit body 67. Cover 60 is designed similar to cover 20 and fits secure when installed using same procedure as 20.

Referring now in greater detail drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.

The first embodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1-4 and illustrate a temporary outlet cover 20 used to cover a single junction box 10. The outlet cover will be made from a polyethylene material allowing the cover to be durable and reusable.

Cover 30, 36 and 42 are embodiments for quadruple, triple and double junction boxes. Cover 30, and 42 have rounded grip ridges 33, 34, 38, 39, 45 and 46 that are parallel to top and bottom edge 35, 36, 40, 41, 47 and 48 which allows the installer to have a better grip while installing and removing.

Cover 50 is an embodiment of the invention for standard round shaped junction boxes and ceiling boxes. The cover has extended side tabs 51 and 52 are circular shaped at the bottom and when pressure is released from tabs after installing, the tabs have snug fit similar to cover 20. Cover 50 has a trapezoidal cavity sized so it can receive a protruding light switch. The top and bottom edges 55, and 56 sit flush on the exposed rim of the junction box. The cover is easily installed by using the rounded grip ridges 53 and 54 when installing and removing, are used in the same fashion as cover 20.

Cover 60 is an embodiment of the invention for standard shaped conduit bodies. The extended side tabs 61 and 62, the rounded grip ridges 63 and 64, and the top and bottom edges 65 and 66 allow cover to be installed, removed and protect as cover 20.

While only standard sized and shaped junction boxes were used the different covers, the invention of this application can be used in connection with other specialty junction boxes without detracting from the invention of this application.

While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can be made and that many changes of can be made in the preferred embodiments, including equivalents thereof, without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the forgoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A temporary plastic protective cover for an electrical junction box having vertical sidewalls and enclosing a light switch extending through an opening of the junction box. The protective cover is trapezoidal in shape and the cavity's opening is rectangular in shape and size, it is dimensions are substantially similar to the dimensions of the opening of the junction box. The cavity is sized to receive the protruding light switch and the extending side tabs are adapted to slide into the vertical sidewalls of the junction box and to frictionally engage the sidewalls. While inserting the cover into the junction box, pressure is simultaneously applied to the right and left trapezoidal shaped extended side tabs sides, and when the cover is pushed into the box and it sits flush on the rim of junction box, the protective cover is in place.
 2. The protective cover of claim 1 wherein rectangular box portion is sized to cover electrical boxes configured to the size of a residential, single or multiple electrical outlet(s) or switch(es).
 3. A method of using a temporary protective cover to protect and cover contents of an interior or exterior electrical junction box that rests on the surface or is embedded within a wall surface while applying exterior stucco, joint compound, joint compound as a texture, painting, and applying a faux finish. Said methods comprising the steps of removing a standard-sized electrical box cover plate, or prior to the installation of electrical cover plate; providing a protective cover configured to slide into junction box when pressure is applied to the right and left extended side tabs simultaneously while pushing cover into junction box. The cover, made from plastic materials from the polyethylene family, is durable and reusable. Allowing any of the aforementioned tasks to be preformed on the wall surface up to the edge of the protective cover, then removing protective cover, and attaching the standard-sized electrical plate cover.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing a protective cover includes providing a protective cover, having a top surface and a bottom edge of the cover portion: and wherein the step of sliding the protective cover into the electrical junction box includes squeezing right and left extending tab sides simultaneously when sliding the cover into the junction box causing tabs to frictionally engage interior walls of junction box.
 5. A method of creating a temporary protective cover for and electrical junction box, to be used during painting, taping and texturing drywall, exterior stuccoing, when installing new junction boxes and other construction and maintenance tasks, said method comprising the steps of; forming a cover portion with the bottom edges of cover to contact the rim surface of the junction box; and having extending side tabs, extensions of the cover portion, wherein the extending side tabs when squeezed simultaneously can slide into opening of junction box to frictionally engage the interior walls of the box. The cover is maintained by the frictional engagement between the extended side tabs and the interior surfaces of the outlet box, to secure the temporary cover in place. Other embodiments of this invention can be used with a structured cable box and bracket, F. S. Boxes and conduit bodies.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the cover portion is sized to cover electrical junction boxes configured to residential single or multiple electrical outlets and switches.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of forming the cover portion includes forming the cover portion in a rectangular shape. 